What is WWE Network? Everything you need to know! (Update: US version shut down)

Update: April 20, 2021 – The WWE Network has now shut down in the US. Its content, and all future WWE streaming content, will be shown on the Peacock streaming service.  Peacock costs $4.99 a month with ads or $9.99 a month without ads. WWE Network will still be available to access outside the US.

Original story: March 25, 2020 – With the coronavirus outbreak keeping people at home, many folks have turned to streaming video services to pass the time. One of the biggest forms of entertainment on TV is pro wrestling, and there’s no bigger name in that business than World Wrestling Entertainment or WWE. The center of that company’s business is the WWE Network.

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So what is WWE Network, and what do you need to know before you sign up for it to watch its content? We have the answers for you so you can prepare for all the action in and out of the ring. And don’t forget to sign up if you live outside the US.

What is WWE Network?

The streaming service first launched in 2014. The reason for the service was that WWE’s owners decided they want more control of the content created by the organization, rather than depend on cable TV channel agreements. The service currently has just under 1.5 million subscribers, according to WWE’s latest financial statement. That number may change now that the service is no longer available in the US.

How much is WWE Network?

WWE Network costs differently overseas. In Canada, it cost $14.99 CAN a month, plus access to your local cable or satellite TV service. It costs £9.99 per month in the UK and €12.99 per month in Europe.

Is there a way to watch WWE Network for free?

Yes, there is. The service recently allowed anyone with a free WWE Network account can watch a ton of content on the service. That includes replays of recent WWE TV shows, along with a selection of original shows and more.

WWE Network used to offer a 30-day free trial for the full service, but that has now been discontinued.

Where is WWE Network available?

The service first launched in the US and has since expanded to cover nearly all countries around the world. It has now shut down in the US, but its content will be available on Peacock.

What platforms can I use to watch the service?

The service is available to watch outside the US on Android and iOS devices via downloadable apps. WWE Network is also available on Roku streaming sticks, set-top boxes, and TVs that have the Roku OS installed. The same goes for Amazon Fire TV-based sticks, set-top boxes, and TVs. The service is also available on Android TV-based devices such as the NVIDIA Shield set-top box.

The service is even available for casting to TVs via Google Chromecast and devices that have Chromecast built-in. However, for some unknown reason, subscribers cannot watch WWE pay-per-view events via Chromecast.

WWE Network is also available on the Microsoft Xbox One and Sony Playstation 4 game consoles, and for the Apple TV set-top boxes.  You can stream the service on Samsung, Sony, and LG smart TVs. Finally, PC owners can use their web browser to surf over to the WWE Network web site to sign up and watch content.

How many people can share my WWE Network account?

Unfortunately, the service does not officially allow you to share your account with anyone else. Only one concurrent stream per account is supported.

What download speeds are supported by the service?

For standard definition content, the WWE Network requires at least 7Mbps of download speed. To stream HD content on the service, you will need at least 10Mbps of download speed.

What can I watch on WWE Network?

WWE Network has a ton of great programming to stream, even if you are just checking out the recently made available free content. The biggest attraction is access to nearly all of the past and current WWE pay-per-view events. 

You can also go old school and watch nearly every past episode of WWE’s cable shows, including RAW, Smackdown, and more. You can even watch old shows of pro wrestling franchises that WWE has acquired over the years, including WCW and ECW shows. Or maybe you want to watch the organization’s past reality shows on other cable networks, including Total Divas? Wish granted. 

The service has a lot of original programming, too. Here’s just a sample of what you can stream on the network.

• This Week in WWE – A weekly look back at the WWE’s cable TV programming.
• WWE’s The Bump – A daytime-talk show-style series with new episodes every week.
• WWE 24 – A documentary show that goes deeper into WWE stars and events.
• Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions – Former WWE wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin hosts this interview series with current and former WWE stars.
• WWE Untold – This series looks back at memorable matches, with new interviews and insights.
• The Monday Night War – A documentary mini-series that chronicles the rivalry in the 1990s between the WWE (then called the WWF) and Ted Turner’s WCW organization.
• Camp WWE – This is an animated series from the team behind Robot Chicken. It depicts WWE wrestlers as kids going to summer camp, with former WWE stars as their counselors.

Can I watch WWE Raw, WWE Smackdown, and WWE NXT live on WWE Network?

Unfortunately, no. The agreements WWE has with the TV networks (USA Network for Raw and NXT and Fox for Smackdown) prevent the service from streaming them live. However, episodes of those shows are made available on the service 30 days after they are first shown on their cable networks.